Jason Momoa talks AQUAMAN: "Just wait" with the fish jokes

Let’s get one thing straight: Aquaman is a badass. The DC Comics Atlantean king is one of the most powerful members of the Justice League and commands a kingdom that literally covers two-thirds of the planet. And yet, thanks to some poor writing and the lasting memory of one 1970’s cartoon in which he was portrayed as a fool (with Super Friends like these, who needs enemies?), there are still lots of people that think him lame. “He just swims fast and talks to fish”, right? Wrong.

He’s super-strong, a battle-hardened warrior and born leader, has incredible senses, wields a trident that could probably give Superman a close shave, and takes no crap from anybody when it comes to doing whatever needs doing. And oh yeah, about that talking to fish thing? Sure he can telepathically command all marine life, but that also means that he can just call up an army of great white sharks to handle his chomping business whenever he feels like it!

So yeah, badass. And that’s something that director Zack Snyder is really trying to get across with his upcoming cinematic version of the character – who will be making his debut in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice – especially since he cast natural born badass Jason Momoa (aka savage Khal Drogo in Game of Thrones) in the role. One look at the new character design, which ditches the bright green pants, tells you that they’re clearly not joking around here.

Momoa was in attendance at Fan Expo Canada this weekend past, and once again got asked about the fish jokes by an audience member. Momoa’s response? Just wait:

“It’s cute and funny. People make fun of him. There’s a bunch of jokes about him, but I’m like, ‘Just wait. Let’s just wait a little bit, and then you can make jokes.’”

Not that Momoa and Snyder are planning to give people material to make jokes about though. Speaking to EW as well, the Hawaiian-born actor revealed what was being planned for the character.

“The whole mythology of Aquaman is pretty amazing. There’s so many things to tell, and there’s a whole backstory that’s just amazing. There’s a lot of surprises coming. I think, yeah, he’s been cast aside [in the past]. But, um [laughs] times are going to change now, buddy. … We don’t want to just reinvent it, but [Zack Snyder has] got a whole idea of what Aquaman should be and I’m really honored to be playing it. I’m excited for the world to see it.”

Besides for Zack Snyder’s guiding hand for the character’s debut (and his subsequent reappearance in Justice League), DC have also tapped James Wan to direct Aquaman’s solo movie in 2018. Wan, fresh from the box-office record destroying Furious 7 as well as a string of genuinely scary horror movies, doesn’t appear to even know how to make a lame movie, and certainly not one with potential of Aquaman. I’ve been a fan of Momoa’s work for a while, and seeing the type of beefy action man setpieces Wan dreamed up Vin Diesel and co in Furious 7, I am super stoked to what this pair can produce.

You can watch Momoa’s full Fan Expo Canada clip below.

Batman v Superman is out next year March, Justice League – Parts 1 & 2 release respectively in 2017 and 2019, with Aquaman sandwiched in between them in 2018. Just how that timeline is going to work is still a mystery right now.

A man of many passions - but very little sleep - I've been geeking out over movies, video games, comics, books, anime, TV series and lemon meringues as far back as I can remember. So show up for the geeky insight, stay for the delicious pastries.

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